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Truth is, I really don't know if Miami Hurricanes head coach Jim Larrañaga’s dreamt of a senior on his 2017 roster leading the unit day in, day out and whose name happens to rhyme with Tavon Deed. I can’t don’t read dreams. I can assure you of that.
Nevertheless, here we are approaching February and ... Jim Larrañaga has a 21-year-old senior leading his unit day in, day out and his name is Davon Reed. (Uh, yah think?)
Take away Davon’s unquestionable leadership for a minute.
What makes Reed a particularly valuable asset is that he’s an above-average player on both ends of the court and at two positions (SG/SF).
In the words of the great, site-renowned Jerry Steinberg:
“Davon Reed is the best player in the conference no one talks about ... The 6-6 Reed can handle, shoot, finish and especially defend.”
And so it was written on Feb. 23, 2016. Put it in the books: Reed is better than just good, and this was declared most-royally nearly a full year ago.
Jerry’s sentiment is coming to fruition. As a junior, Reed averaged 11.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. That is not not good for a veteran player finding his role amongst the likes of Sheldon McClellan, Angel Rodriguez and Ja’Quan Newton.
Fast forward to late January, 2017 and Reed’s increased his scoring by nearly 50%. On this day, he’s averaging (a team leading) 15.5 points with 4.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists per contest. And don’t forget the nearly three blocks and steals combined he conjures up each night.
Reed has not only ascended from junior to senior status, but also graduated from three-and-D role player into a true two-way force on a nightly basis. Right now, he’s everything we thought he was and more.
The road ahead for Reed’s team — and let’s be clear, this is Reed’s team — is far from easy. Miami is coming off a statement win against North Carolina, a school they were previously 0-for-10 all-time against when the Tar Heels were AP Top-10 ranked.
Five of the Hurricanes’ next 10 opponents are ranked in the Top-20, including the first of two battles against the No. 6 Seminoles this coming Wednesday.
Davon is ready for the challenge. He said it himself:
“[I’ve] just been laser-focused. Just trying to lead this team.”
He never was the prospect Bruce Brown is — Reed was a 3-star recruit out of Ewing, N.J. in the class of 2013. He wasn’t given the tremendous athleticism of DeQuan Jones and certainly not the impeccable finesse of Jimmy Graham (I’m kidding, relax.).
Four years later, Davon Reed is on the court twice a week and guiding his team whose best days will lie across the next two months.
That is if he has anything to say about it.